What is Pathways to Scientific Laboratories?
Do you want to gain experience supporting scientific analysis, investigation, research and development in one of the University of Exeter’s laboratories? Employers value pre-entry experience in a laboratory, as it not only demonstrates your familiarity with lab procedures but shows your commitment and interest in the field.
Pathways to Scientific Laboratories offers the opportunity for students to gain valuable experience supporting one of the university's laboratories. Please note, this programme is open to students within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences only. If you are accepted onto the programme, you will attend a four-day training course where you will learn the essential skills and knowledge in Health and Safety and what to expect when working alongside scientists and technicians. There will also be the opportunity to gain an insight into the career paths available in this industry plus learn about topics prevalent in the industry. You will then complete a 35 hour internship in one of the university's laboratories.
The interactive programme comprises of two key elements:
- Employer-led training - four days of technical and employability training (15 - 18 June 2026)
- Paid internship - You will undertake a 35 hour paid internship within one of the university's laboratories (full-time or part-time between 22 June - 3 July 2026)
"Pathways to Scientific Laboratories has been an eye-opening experience. It gave me practical insight into the day-to-day work of technicians and helped me explore career paths I hadn’t considered before. I’d highly recommend the programme to anyone curious about working in a scientific environment". (Sabrina, MSc Clinical Psychology - Pathways 2025 cohort)
"I had the privilege of joining the University of Exeter’s Professional Pathways to Science Laboratories programme, followed by an insightful internship that transformed my understanding of science as a deeply collaborative effort. From exploring environmental diagnostics, sports science and pollinator behaviour to hands-on experience with lab safety, equipment checks and cryogenic storage, the journey revealed the vital - often unsung - roles of technicians, researchers and support teams. Guided by inspiring mentors, we not only sharpened technical skills but also discovered the human connections, adaptability and curiosity that drive scientific progress." (Sofiia, MSc Psychology - Pathways 2025 cohort)
- Gain an insight into working in a laboratory
- Increase your knowledge of sector specific activities
- Learn in an interactive and experiential environment
- Work with students from different year groups, subjects and levels of degree
- Be inspired by experienced professionals
- Gain confidence in your abilities
- Develop your career plan
- Culminates in an essential work experience, undertaking a paid internship within a laboratory
- This activity counts towards the Exeter Award
- Receive a certificate
To be eligible to apply for this programme, you must be studying a degree within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS). HLS students from all levels of study from first year to final year are welcome to apply, undergraduate or postgraduate and international students. No prior technical experience or knowledge is necessary, but we would like you to be able to demonstrate a keen interest in this subject area. Please see full eligibility criteria below:
Student status
- You must be a current University of Exeter student when you apply for and take part in the programme in June/July 2026 (please note, students graduating in Summer 2026 are eligible to apply).
- Students from any campus (as long as within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences) can apply for this pathway, however when reviewing the available internships, please take into consideration your current location and the location of the labs.
- If you have previously completed the Pathways to Scientific Laboratories programme, please note you are not eligible to apply again.
- If you are an interrupted student, you will not have current student status and are therefore ineligible to apply for Professional Pathways.
- If you are a full-time Postgraduate student, you are limited to working a maximum of 6 hours per week, however if you are able to gain supervisor approval to complete both the training and the 35 hour internship, you will be able to undertake the Pathways programme. You will need to seek approval if you are successful in gaining a place on the programme. Please note, you will need to apply only for roles that are available to be worked part-time.
- If you are a part-time Postgraduate student, you are limited to working a maximum of 18.25 hours per week, so would need to split your 35 hours across two weeks, unless you get supervisor approval to work full-time (35 hours) in one week. You will need to seek approval if you are successful in gaining a place on the programme.
Right to Work (RTW)
- You must have the right to work in the UK at the point the Professional Pathways programme commences in June 2026 and this must cover both the training and the internship taking place into July 2026.
- In order to expedite the right to work checking process, you will be asked to provide your right to work evidence at the application stage. A full list of acceptable documents can be viewed on the Home Office website.
- Whatever evidence you are going to use, please ensure you have the original with you at university as this could delay you getting your right to work checked and even jeopardise your place on the programme. If your passport is out of date you can still use this as evidence, but again ensure you have the original with you.
- If you have been employed by the University within the last 12 months and provided your right to work evidence, this should still be up-to-date and you would not need to provide it again. You can declare this to us at the application stage.
- For more information about Right to Work checks please see the Casual Workers webpage.
International, EU and EEA students
- You must have the right to work in the UK at the point the programme commences and this must cover both the training and the internship taking place. Depending on your visa restrictions, if you are successful onto the programme, we will advise the lab managers to accommodate part-time hours across two weeks, if needed.
Applications for Pathways to Scientific Laboratories are now open. To apply for the 2026 programme, please complete the relevant application form linked below for the internship you would like to apply for. Please ensure you have fully read all the information on this webpage before applying. Full details on the opportunities available can be found under the 'Internships' heading on this webpage. Please note, this programme is open to students within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences only.
Links to individual lab application forms:
- Lab 1 - Aquatic Resources Centre
- Lab 2 - Imaging Suite
- Lab 3 - RILD Research Labs and NIHR Exeter CRF Facilities
- Lab 4 - Exeter Sequencing Facility
- Lab 5 - St Lukes Laboratories
- Lab 6 - Living Systems Institute
- Lab 7 - Centre for Cytomics
- Lab 8 - Hatherly and Washington Singer Laboratories
- Lab 9 - Mass Spectrometry Facility
You will be asked to write an answer to four questions within the form, your responses to these will be marked and scored. To prepare your responses before beginning the form, you can download the questions here:
Pathways to Scientific Laboratories application questions
You are welcome to apply for as many of the laboratories as you wish, however you must complete the separate application form for each lab. If shortlisted for multiple, you are welcome to interview for multiple, but will only be able to accept and complete the one internship opportunity.
Top Tips on completing the application form
We have put together some guidance to help you with completing the application form stage. You can access this guide below:
When applying, students should demonstrate the following attributes:
- Team working and able to work independently
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Attention to detail
- Time management and organisational skills
- Enthusiastic and proactive approach to work
- Passion for the sector and science
- Responsible attitude to health & safety
- Laboratory experience would be beneficial
- Proactive attitude and a problem solver
- Responsive to instructions
What happens after the initial application stage?
Shortlisted students will be invited to attend an interview for their chosen lab(s) in May 2026. If your application is shortlisted, you will be contacted around this time, with an interview invite. Students will be notified of the outcome of their application(s) either way.
Students selected onto the programme will undertake 4 days of training delivered on our Streatham campus in Exeter. The training will take place 15 - 18 June 2026. You would be expected to attend all sessions for your Pathway programme.
The training will equip you with the skills, specialist knowledge and preparatory support needed for undertaking your paid 35 hour lab-based internship.
Training schedule:
Please see below the training sessions from our 2025 Pathways to Scientific Laboratories programme. While the schedule is not yet confirmed for 2026, it's likely to cover some similar topics.
- Risk assessments and career talk
- Tour and talk of South West Water CREWW labs
- Research, Innovation, Learning and Development (RILD) laboratory tours at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital site
- Beekeeping specialist talk
- Career talk by a Cytometry specialist and tour of the Centre for Cytomics
- Technical support for 'what if' scenarios in research settings
- Tour of the Sports Labs at St Lukes Campus
- pH meter training
- Pipettes training
- Visit to APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre, Starcross
- Attending Technical Services Conference
- Induction to the lab ahead of your internship
Following the training, you will complete a paid 35-hour internship (or 70 hours in the case of lab 7) within one of the university's laboratories, supporting the laboratory managers, academic staff and research students. Duties will vary depending on the lab you are based in.
Internships available are either part-time or full-time roles and will take place between 22 June - 3 July 2026. All work will be undertaken in-person within the relevant lab. The rate of pay for the internships element will be £15.07 per hour (includes £13.45 basic hourly rate + £1.62 holiday pay).
Internships are available in the following labs for our 2026 programme:
Lab 1 – Aquatic Resources Centre
Lab 3 – RILD Research Labs and NIHR Exeter CRF Facilities
Lab 4 – Exeter Sequencing Facility
Lab 5 – St Lukes Laboratories (Sport & Health, Radiography, Med School)
Lab 6 – Living Systems Institute
Lab 8 – Hatherly Laboratories and Washington Singer Laboratories
Lab 9 – Mass Spectrometry Facility
You can find further information on working hours, working location and the full job description for each lab opportunity by viewing this year's Pathways to Scientific Labs internship booklet.
When reviewing the available internships, please take into consideration the working patterns on offer and ensure you can be available before applying.
Quotes from former Pathways to Scientific Laboratories students:
"It was a great week- I developed many vital lab skills and learnt how to use different techniques and equipment, all of which makes me feel more confident for applying to roles in the future!" - Lola (BSc Biological Sciences with Professional Placement)
"The Pathways to Scientific Laboratories programme was an excellent experience to find out more about research and technician roles in labs, how a variety of labs are run to accommodate the research carried out at the university, and to gain experience in lab skills, and I would highly recommend it!" - Kelly (MSci Conservation Biology and Ecology)
"A very useful internship that prepares you for a future career within a laboratory setting by allowing you to gain necessary experience needed for these roles." - Eleanor (BSc Marine Biology)
"After undertaking my Science Labs professional placement, I felt much more confident and excited about planning my future career and deciding on the graduate jobs the University have to offer. Both the training and internship was extremely useful and were organised with the students' interests in mind, making each day engaging and interesting. I would highly recommend this to anyone considering a career in science or trying to expand their network in their field of interest." - Lucy (BSc Human Sciences)
If you would like to ask any questions, please contact the Pathways team at: professionalpathways@exeter.ac.uk